The effects and fruit of His mercy are manifest, but how should any one except Him know its quiddity?

هیچ ماهیات اوصاف کمال ** کس نداند جز بثار و مثال

None knows the quiddities of the attributes of (Divine) Perfection except through (their) effects and by means of comparison.

طفل ماهیت نداند طمث را ** جز که گویی هست چون حلوا ترا

The child does not know the quiddity of concubitus, except that you say, “It is like sweetmeat to thee.” [The child does not know the quiddity of sexual intercourse, except that you say, “it is like sweetmeat to thee.”]

کی بود ماهیت ذوق جماع ** مثل ماهیات حلوا ای مطاع

How should the quiddity of the pleasure of sexual intercourse be like the quiddities of sweetmeat, O master?

لیک نسبت کرد از روی خوشی ** با تو آن عاقل چو تو کودک‌وشی

But, since you are childish, that intelligent man offered you the analogy respecting the sweetness (of it),

تا بداند کودک آن را از مثال ** گر نداند ماهیت یا عین حال3640

In order that the child might know it by comparison, though he does not know the quiddity or essence of the matter.

پس اگر گویی بدانم دور نیست ** ور ندانم گفت کذب و زور نیست

Therefore, if you say “I know,” ’tis not far (from the truth); and if you say, “I do not know,” ’tis not a lie and a falsehood.

گر کسی گوید که دانی نوح را ** آن رسول حق و نور روح را

If some one say (to you), “Do you know Noah, the Messenger of God and the Light of the spirit?”—

گر بگویی چون ندانم کان قمر ** هست از خورشید و مه مشهورتر

And if you reply, “How should not I know (him)? for that (spiritual) Moon is more celebrated than the sun and moon:

کودکان خرد در کتابها ** و آن امامان جمله در محرابها

The little children at school and all the Imáms in the mosques

نام او خوانند در قرآن صریح ** قصه‌اش گویند از ماضی فصیح3645

Recite his name distinctly in the Qur’án and tell plainly his story (as it has come down) from the past”—

راست‌گو دانیش تو از روی وصف ** گرچه ماهیت نشد از نوح کشف

You, veracious man, know him by way of description, though the quiddity of Noah has not been revealed (to you).

ور بگویی من چه دانم نوح را ** همچو اویی داند او را ای فتی

And if you reply, “How should I know Noah? (Only) one like him can know him, O youth.

مور لنگم من چه دانم فیل را ** پشه‌ای کی داند اسرافیل را

I am a lame ant. How should I know the elephant? How should a gnat know Isráfíl?”—

این سخن هم راستست از روی آن ** که بماهیت ندانیش ای فلان

This saying (answer) is also true in regard to the fact that you do not know him in his quiddity, O so-and-so.

عجز از ادراک ماهیت عمو ** حالت عامه بود مطلق مگو3650

To be unable to perceive the quiddity, uncle, is the condition of common men: do not say it absolutely,

زانک ماهیات و سر سر آن ** پیش چشم کاملان باشد عیان

Inasmuch as quiddities and their inmost secret are clearly visible to the eyes of the Perfect.

در وجود از سر حق و ذات او ** دورتر از فهم و استبصار کو

Where in existence is (anything) more remote from understanding and mental perception than the consciousness and essence of God?

چونک آن مخفی نماند از محرمان ** ذات و وصفی چیست کان ماند نهان

Since that does not remain hidden from (His) familiars, what is the essence and attribute that should remain concealed?

عقل بحثی گوید این دورست و گو ** بی ز تاویل محالی کم شنو

The intellect of the scholastic theologian says, “This is far (from reasonable) and deeply involved (in error): do not listen to an absurdity without some explanation.”

قطب گوید مر ترا ای سست‌حال ** آنچ فوق حال تست آید محال3655

The Qutb (the Head of the Saints) replies, “To thee, O infirm one, that which is above thy (spiritual) state seems absurd.”

واقعاتی که کنونت بر گشود ** نه که اول هم محالت می‌نمود

The visions which are now revealed to you, is it not the case that at first they seemed absurd to you?

چون رهانیدت ز ده زندان کرم ** تیه را بر خود مکن حبس ستم

Inasmuch as the (Divine) Bounty has released you from ten prisons, do not make the (wide) desert an oppressive prison to yourself.

جمع و توفیق میان نفی و اثبات یک چیز از روی نسبت و اختلاف جهت

How the negation and affirmation of one (and the same) thing may be combined and reconciled from the standpoint of relativity and difference of aspect.

نفی آن یک چیز و اثباتش رواست ** چون جهت شد مختلف نسبت دوتاست

It is possible to deny and affirm the same thing: when the point of view is different, the relation is twofold.

ما رمیت اذ رمیت از نسبتست ** نفی و اثباتست و هر دو مثبتست

(The text) thou didst not throw when thou threwest is relative: it is negation and affirmation: both are authorised.

آن تو افکندی چو بر دست تو بود ** تو نه افکندی که قوت حق نمود3660

Thou threwest that (gravel), since it was on thy hand; thou didst not throw, for God manifested (His) power.

زور آدم‌زاد را حدی بود ** مشت خاک اشکست لشکر کی شود

The strength of one born of Adam has a limit: how should a handful of earth become (the cause of) the rout of an army?

مشت مشت تست و افکندن ز ماست ** زین دو نسبت نفی و اثباتش رواست

“(O Mohammed), the handful is thy handful, and the throwing is from Me”: on account of these two relations (both) the denial and the affirmation of it (the throwing) are right.

یعرفون الانبیا اضدادهم ** مثل ما لا یشتبه اولادهم

The prophets are known by their enemies, just as their (the enemies') children are not doubtful (to their parents).

همچو فرزندان خود دانندشان ** منکران با صد دلیل و صد نشان

The unbelievers know them (the prophets) as (they know) their children by a hundred indications and a hundred signs,

لیک از رشک و حسد پنهان کنند ** خویشتن را بر ندانم می‌زنند3665

But, from jealousy and envy, they conceal (their knowledge) and attach themselves to (become addicted to saying) “I do not know.”

پس چو یعرف گفت چون جای دگر ** گفت لایعرفهم غیری فذر

Then, since He (God) hath said, “He (the unbeliever) knows,” how hath He said in another place?—“None knoweth them except Me, so leave off (seeking to know them);